U.S. Budget cuts could endanger aid to Jordan, Israel & Egypt

Both Obama & Kerry warn that deep spending cuts could limit US military operations abroad.

By HILARY LEILA KRIEGER, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPOND

 

WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama warned Tuesday that steep spending reductions could jeopardize America’s military involvement abroad, adding pressure on Republicans to make a deal to avoid automatic cuts set to take effect on March 1.
Mine warfare ship USS Defender [illustrative]

Mine warfare ship USS Defender – Photo: US Navy/Ryan C. McGinley

“Already, the threat of these cuts has forced the navy to delay an aircraft carrier that was supposed to deploy to the Persian Gulf,” Obama said during public remarks attended by first-responders whose positions would be affected by the automatic cuts, known as budget sequestration.
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Red Sea – Mediterranean Sea railway path approved

New train tracks planned for Eilat will go through desert & wildlife reservations despite environmental groups objections. Tracks planed to become operational in 2019

Amir Ben-David

 

The Southern Zoning Committee approved a bid by the Israel National Roads Company to build new train tracks in the country’s south, despite an environmental impact report that deemed the project harmful, Yedioth Aharonoth reported.

Illustration - Photo by Index OpenThe train track are expected to run though plant and wildlife reservations, as well as known hiking trails, but unlike similar projects that aimed to minimize their environmental impact, the new project will not make use of the usual solution of tunnels, as suggested by the Environmental Protection Ministry Israel Nature and National Parks Service. Continue Reading »

After Hatnuah, Shas likely to be next to join Bibi’s coalition

Members of Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu suggested that Netanyahu may try to build a coalition of 57 MKS – including Shas, United Torah Judaism, Kadima & Hatnuah and then present Naftali Bennett with an ultimatum.

 

Likud officials in charge of coalition negotiations said that Hatnuah Chairman Tzipi Livni‘s consent to join Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government was the “first domino” to fall, believing that more parties would now follow.

Yishai, Netanyahu, and Bennett

Benjamin Netanyahu and Naftali Bennett. – Photo by Archive

Shas and Kadima are expected to join the coalition quickly, but the Likud officials also expect that Livni’s move will apply pressure on Yesh Atid and Habayit Hayehudi, as well. Continue Reading »

How to Assassinate a Senior Hizbullah Terrorist

A Lebanese newspaper reports a detailed accounting of the assassination of Hizbullah terrorist Imad Mughniyeh inside Syria in 2008.

By Elad Benari

 

A report published on Tuesday in the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar purports to present a detailed account of the 2008 assassination of senior Hizbullah terrorist Imad Mughniyeh in Damascus.

Imad MughniyehAs expected, the report pointed the finger at the Israeli Mossad as being behind the operation.

According to Al-Akhbar, as soon as the 2006 Second Lebanon War ended, Hizbullah began the largest operation to restore its military organization and raise the level of its readiness and weaponry. Mughniyeh was put in charge of developing and enhancing the military abilities of the group in Lebanon. Continue Reading »

Holocaust Ceremony in Istanbul

Holocaust Ceremony at Ortaköy Etz Ahayim Synagogue attended by chief rabbi, Jewish community members, Holocaust survivors,Turkish gov’t officials, Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew & local citizens

jn1.tv

 

VIDEO – Guests of the Ortaköy Etz Ahayim Synagogue in Istanbul – a holy place that has witnessed countless weddings, ceremonies, bar mitzvahs and hopeful prayers throughout decades and generations – commemorated the International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27.

Istanbul, Turkey – Photo: AP

Millions of Jews, who were systematically murdered by Nazi regime during World War II, were commemorated in the Turkish city.

Besides the members of the local Jewish community, the ceremony was also attended by Holocaust survivors, the chief rabbi, Turkish government officials, Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew and citizens of Istanbul. Continue Reading »

Women Drivers Escape Terrorist Ambush

Jewish women drivers escaped  Palestinian Authority gang’s carjacking attempts.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

Palestinian Authority resident criminal gangs continue to target Israeli drivers for theft, and women traveling alone in particular. Two women escaped attempted carjackings at the last minute on Monday evening.

The two told Arutz Sheva their stories.

“At around 9 p.m. I passed through the Hizme junction on my way home, and suddenly I lost control of the car,” one recalled. “There was something on the road that made the car slip sideways.”

She pulled over to see what was wrong, and a car immediately pulled up behind her. Continue Reading »

Suicide-proof cell…with all the extras: A stool, a sheet & bars on window

Ben Zygier reportedly told the guards he was taking the sheet to the bathroom to wash it. Then Zygier hanged himself by standing on a stool then tying his bed sheet to the steel bars on the bathroom window-bars.

By Israel Hayom Staff

 

Israel’s Maariv newspaper reported on Tuesday that alleged Mossad agent Ben Zygier hanged himself in Ayalon Prison by tying a bed sheet to the steel bars of the window in his cell’s bathroom, and then standing on a stool.

An article about Zygier on the front page of an Australian newspaper last week. – Photo: AFP

Citing the Israel Prison Service report written up immediately after Zygier’s suicide in December 2010, Maariv reported that Zygier woke up on the morning of Dec.

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Belgrade bloggers captivated over Israel

6 young, influential Serbian bloggers fall in love with the Jewish State after finding ‘wonderful people, outstanding food, and soldiers with big guns & huge smiles’

By Itamar Eichner

 

“If we could, we would stay in Tel Aviv forever. The people are wonderful, the food is outstanding, the views are splendid, the soldiers walk around with big guns and huge smiles and they are much nicer than our civil servants.”

Serbians "like" Israel (Archives) Photo: Desa Fogel

Serbians “like” Israel – Photo: Desa Fogel

This is the impression Israel made on bloggers from Belgrade, Serbia who returned to their country enamored with the Jewish state.

The six skillful and curious bloggers who write on an array of topics were brought to Israel on a joint Foreign Ministry-Tourism Ministry venture. Continue Reading »

Aqsa Martyrs terrorists demand PA pay raises…or else.

The Aqsa Martyrs Brigade gunmen, who had been pardoned from Israeli prisons, say the NIS 1,500 that each receives from the PA is not enough & may hunger-strike until pensions are increased.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

Former members of Fatah’s armed wing, Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, demanded Sunday that the Palestinian Authority raise their salaries.
Palestinian gunmen from Al-Aqsa brigades of Fatah

Palestinian gunmen from Al-Aqsa brigades of Fatah
Photo: REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

The gunmen, who had been pardoned by Israel, said that the NIS 1,500 that each one of them receives from the PA was not enough.

They threatened to launch protests in the West Bank if the PA government did not increase their salaries.

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A fishy performance at Jerusalem’s Int’l Ice Festival

Jerusalem’s Mayor Nir Barkat guarantees new & improved content at Jerusalem’s 2nd Int’l Ice Festival.

By Reuters

 

Visitors to Jerusalem were greeted with a chilly spectacle on Monday, as the Holy City’s second International Ice Festival exhibition began.

An ice carver from China.

An ice carver from China chips colored ice as he works on an ice sculpture for the Ice Festival in Jerusalem, – Photo by Reuters

“It’s the ice festival’s second year. This year is dramatically improved and enriched. We’ve heard lots of comments and new ideas and innovations. This is fascinating experience for people that are never been to the ice city,” said Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat. Continue Reading »

A-G Weighing Legal Action Against MKs who Leaked Zygier Affair

The Attorney General reported that pre-planned statements are not protected under MKs’ immunity.

By Gil Ronen

 

Attorney General and Government Legal Advisor Yehuda Weinstein is considering a request by MK Miri Regev (Likud) to open a criminal investigation against MKs Ahmed Tibi (Raam-Taal), Zehava Galon (Meretz) and Dov Chenin (Hadash), who rendered ineffective a gag order on the Zygier affair by speaking about the affair in the Knesset plenum.

Once the MKs spoke about the affair in the plenum, where deliberations are broadcast live on the televised Knesset Channel, other Israeli news outlets felt free to report about it, too. Continue Reading »

Is Qatar funding the calm in Gaza?

Security source report how money is “flowing into Gaza,” as Qatar Emir’s cash is paying for new construction and infrastructure.

 

Israeli deterrence has so far successfully kept Hamas from violating the cease-fire reached after an eight-day round of violence in November, but a second factor might also be playing a role in upholding the unprecedented calm along the Gaza-Israel border: economics.

Qatari emir greeted in Gaza by Haniyeh

Qatari emir greeted in Gaza by Haniyeh – Photo: Reuters

Weeks before November’s Operation Pillar of Defense, the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, paid a landmark visit to the Hamasrun enclave, and nearly doubled his country’s investment to Gaza, raising it to 400 million dollars.

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Knesset Legal Counsel warns MKs: Leak secrets & be prosecuted

After 3 MKs exposed ‘Zygier affair’ during live broadcast from plenum, Knesset’s Legal Counsel says immunity won’t protect lawmakers disclosing state secrets.

Moran Azulay

 

After a number of Knesset members urged Justice Minister Yaakov Ne’eman to address allegations that an Australian national committed suicide in an Israeli prison, thereby blowing the cover off the “Prisoner X” affair, the issue of parliamentary immunity upon revealing State secrets has become a sensitive matter.

MK Ahmed TibiKnesset Legal Advisor Eyal Yinon determined Monday that Knesset members cannot disclose state secrets to the Knesset plenum and then utilize their parliamentary immunity.

Immunity for revealing State secrets would be applied to an MK if he or she spoke without preplanning, “in the heat of an argument or in response to things said,” Yinon said, but “preplanning a statement – that is in fact a felony that cannot be protected by immunity and a member of Knesset can be prosecuted for the said felony, as can any other person.” Continue Reading »

Egyptian flooding of Hamas’ smuggling tunnels adds to unemployment

Egypt’s policy to shut down the smuggling tunnels to Gaza will mean unemployment for 10,000 Palestinians.

By Reuters

 

Egypt‘s campaign to shut down smuggling tunnels running under its border into the Gaza Strip threatens to throw thousands of Palestinians out of work in the Hamas-run enclave.

Gaza Egypt smuggling tunnel

Palestinian waits for a cart containing gravel inside a smuggling tunnel beneath the Egyptian-Gaza border in November 2012. – Photo by Reuters

The network of tunnels has been a vital lifeline for Gaza, bringing in an estimated 30 percent of all goods that reach the enclave and circumventing a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt for more than seven years. Continue Reading »

Israeli Submarines Spotted Off Coast of Lebanon

Israeli subs have allegedly been spotted cruising off of Lebanon’s coast between Sidon & Nakura.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

Israeli submarines have allegedly been spotted cruising off the coast of Lebanon between Sidon and Nakura, according to a report in Lebanese media.

The Dolphin-class submarine first entered service in 2000. – Photo- IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

French tracking installations informed the United Nations that the subs had been detected, according to the report, published in the Al-Dayar daily newspaper.

Israel Air Force jets regularly patrol the skies of Lebanon for a number of reasons, deterrence against weapons transports from Syria to the Hizbullah terrorist organization among them. Continue Reading »